the effect of anti-gravity treadmill on balance in acute phase of post-operative knee rehabilitation

Background: an anti-gravity treadmill has been used in orthopedic and neurological rehabilitation. however, little literature on its use in post-operative knee rehabilitation is available. objectives: the purpose of this investigation was to study an effect of anti-gravity treadmill on balance in an early phase of postoperative knee rehabilitation. methods: forty-nine patients who underwent knee surgery participated in this study (study design: cohort study; level of evidence: level ii). at one week post-operatively, each patient was tested for timed single leg stance (sls) on surgical knee on a floor. patients were placed onto either alterg group (ag) or control group (cg) after the test basedontheir pain level. the patients inagunderwent a balance exerciseonalterg, with the pressure adjusted to a pain-free or minimal pain level, once a day at least 5 days a week. those in cg underwent their balance exercise on a floor in the same manner. all patients were tested again for sls at 2 week post-operatively. the lengths of sls were recorded and analyzed. results: the lengths of sls were 38.8 seconds and 19.9 seconds for cg and ag, respectively, at 1 week post-operatively. they improved to 50.5 seconds (cg) and 35.0 seconds (ag) at 2 week post-operatively. there was statistically significant between-group difference at both 1 week and 2 week post-operatively. however, there was no significant between-group difference in improvement from week 1 to week 2. conclusions: a use of anti-gravity treadmill may have a positive effect on balance in an acute phase of post-operative knee recovery in patients who had an increased level of pain during full weight-bearing immediately after knee operation.